Small Convoy Glitch

[Montbrun]

I'm on my second patrol in my new IXC, and am patrolling SW of Freetown. I get a Contact Report on a small convoy. I plot an intercept course, which takes me to Square ET62. It is August 22, 1941. I set up a good firing position, and note that the convoy consists of a Black Swan Corvette in the lead, flying the Free French "Cross of Lorraine" flag, a Tramp Steamer flying the British Ensign, and a Small Merchant flying the French "Tricolor." I disable the Covette with an engine compartment hit, and then turn to the cargo ships. I sink both with shots to the fuel compartments, and then finish off the escort. When I check the Convoy Plotting Screen, the Small Merchant has a green "sunk" icon.

1) Can I assume that the Small Merchant flying the French "Tricolor" was, in fact, Vichy, and therefore neutral at this stage?

2) If this is the case, why is this ship in this convoy, being escorted by a Free French Corvette, and in the company of a British cargo ship? Seems strange....

Thanks,

Montbrun

EDIT:
MODs Installed:

GW v1.00
Tonnage War Mod v1.03
Tonnage War Mod v1.03 Terrain Add-In
Extended Unified Campaign (GW+NYGM)
CA Officer Icons
Fubar Crew
IuB v1.03 NavMap Contacts (Tails)

[jasonb885]

...

GW v1.00
Tonnage War Mod v1.03
Tonnage War Mod v1.03 Terrain Add-In
Extended Unified Campaign (GW+NYGM)
CA Officer Icons
Fubar Crew
IuB v1.03 NavMap Contacts (Tails)

Since I didn't include any new, random convoys in ImprovedConvoys, which is used in a modified form in TWM, I'd assume it's something someone else added.

I have since resolved the neutrality issue for ships that actually appear in convoys. France wasn't one of those nations I had to fix, since it's configured correctly.

Sounds like someone simply added ships and failed to verify whether the included ships were at peace or at war with Germany. Oops.

[Montbrun]

It's happened again. July, 1942 - I'm headed out on patrol, and pick up a Small convoy on radar, just West of northern Spain. The small convoy consists of 1 British Tramp Steamer, and 1 Vichy French Large Cargo......

[Kpt. Lehmann]

It's happened again. July, 1942 - I'm headed out on patrol, and pick up a Small convoy on radar, just West of northern Spain. The small convoy consists of 1 British Tramp Steamer, and 1 Vichy French Large Cargo......

Thanks Montbrun, I will try to find and correct it assuming it is in the GW RND file.

[Pablo]

Hi!

I have often noticed that neutral ships are found in convoys, even without the GW mod. For example, I found myself in a nearly identical situation in 1939 (nailed the sole escort and began torpedoing merchant ships) but I was close enough (that is, REALLY close) to identify several of the ships as Danish merchantmen before firing. Vichy France is neutral during 1941 so I'm not surprised it was seen an allied convoy.

Historically, neutral ships could only expect to be ignored if they acted as neutrals (i.e., well-lit, well-marked, and not a member of a belligerent-escorted convoy). It was really the merchant captain's choice: take your chances that a u-boat skipper would not torpedo you without verifying your nationality, or go in a convoy where you could at least have some protection.

I think it's just an operational hazard of SH3 that the game engine puts neutral merchant ships into convoys - I know of no way of keeping them out - so the player is forced to either verify identity before shooting or blast away and risk sinking a neutral ship.

Pablo

[Montbrun]

That's fine, but this occurance was supposed to be rectified in some of the MODs. I think it's just a matter of identifying the fact that Vichy France was not only "neutral," but shouldn't be running with Allies in convoy. Maybe in Italian and German convoys, but not Allied....